Tottenham ‘should not be punished’ for using NFL deal to meet financial rules
Tottenham deserve credit for the innovative way they utilise their facilities to adhere to the Premier League's new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who thinks that they should be allowed to include revenue generated from their contract with the NFL in the rules.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the only arena outside of the USA that is purpose-built to host gridiron football.
Spurs first started to host NFL games in 2019, and are currently contracted to do so twice in each season until 2030.
They are allowed to count those games as one of their non-footballing revenue operations when it comes to the PL's new SCR rules, although some have opposed the concept as it does not relate to the sport itself.
Reports have claimed that the partnership sees Tottenham net around £2m for each game from the NFL, plus matchday revenue, so it is an asset when it comes to them being able to spend big on their playing squad.
Tottenham are in line with the SCR rules when it comes to utilising NFL funds
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – is a fan of what Spurs are doing to benefit their fans.
Tottenham can spend significant sums because, under the new squad-cost ratio rules (SCR), they are allowed to spend up to 85 per cent of their revenue on player costs.
The money that they generate from hosting NFL games is then able to increase the revenue base against which their outgoings on the playing squad are measured using SCR.
It gives them a unique revenue stream against all other PL clubs, and speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that they should be allowed to continue as normal.
He said: “We should always encourage clubs to build great facilities for fans and to reinvest in infrastructure, rather than wasting it so much on stuff that ends up…we used to call it the prune juice effect, where the money floats right through to the players’ car park.
“We shouldn't be punishing people who do that. I get the point that it becomes a non-footballing activity, but nevertheless, we should not be punishing people for building great facilities for the fans and for the football club. And don't forget, the football club is the main tenant. Spurs’ NFL contract, I don't have a problem with that. That's a proper contract that's there.”
Ex-Spurs scout thinks they have 'hugely' overpaid for
Tottenham's summer spending surpassed the £300m mark as they backed Roberto De Zerbi to the hilt ahead of his first full season in charge.
10 new senior signings arrived in North London to bolster the Italian's squad, but former club scout Bryan King has told Football Insider that Spurs clearly overpaid for Sandro Tonali.
He cost the club an initial £92.5m, rising to £100m, but has struggled to make an impact in their first two games of the season, which have each resulted in losses.